The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation reported that the Israeli army is developing its military strategy in southern Lebanon, where it aims to create a “mobile security zone” extending approximately 8 kilometers deep into Lebanese territory, instead of returning to the method of fixed military positions as was the case in the “border strip.”
According to information, this approach aims to remove Hezbollah members from the border, destroy their infrastructure, and shift the focus of the threat from the northern settlements to the ground forces deployed in the field. The implementation of this strategy began about a month ago with the activation of the 91st Division in the region, in addition to the participation of other brigades and units in ground operations.
The plan demonstrates the adoption of a multi-level approach, as the effort in the first phase focuses on villages adjacent to the border and destroying nearby infrastructure, while the second phase targets what Israel calls Hezbollah’s “centers of gravity,” through raids reaching Beirut and the areas north and south of the Litani River, in addition to assassination operations and targeting rocket launchers.
In this context, the Israeli army recalls the experience of the “border strip,” where the nature of fixed positions at the time made it easy for Hezbollah to carry out repeated military operations and inflict losses on Israeli forces, in addition to targeting supply lines, which constituted a major weakness in that period. According to estimates, this difficult experience prompted Israel to move away from returning to the same method, and to adopt a more flexible and dynamic strategy.
Israeli information confirms “field achievements,” including the killing of hundreds of fighters and a noticeable decrease in the frequency of rocket firing toward northern Israel, from hundreds per day to only dozens, in addition to the weakening of the party’s operational readiness.
It also indicated the implementation of field diversionary operations in the western sector, which allowed the expansion of the scope of military action, while the army worked to evacuate civilian areas within the area of operations, and this mainly included villages with a Shiite majority, in addition to limited evacuations in Christian towns, after accusations of using them for military purposes.
On the other hand, the army faces field challenges related to the nature of the terrain and weather conditions, in addition to Hezbollah’s continued use of anti-armor missiles and explosive devices, including advanced Iranian-made weapons. However, the Israeli army considers that the effectiveness of these methods has declined as a result of targeting cadres and experts within the party.
The army confirms that the new strategy depends on containing the threat within the ranks of the armored forces fighting inside Lebanese territory, instead of moving it to the home front, while providing air cover and using advanced means of protection, including electronic warfare systems to confront drones.
